ASK Jason McGuinness for a Shamrock Rovers-Bohemians derby memory that stands out and he does not hesitate.

He takes you back to an April game in Dalymount Park exactly a decade ago when the sides drew 2-2 in a typically feisty tie.

And well it might stand out for him as he thundered home a header to put Rovers 2-0 up in their rival’s backyard.

Centre-back McGuinness actually scored in three of the four derby meetings between the Dublin giants that season.

But in that particular game Bohs battled back and snatched an injury time equaliser when Kevin Hunt smashed a penalty after a Trevor Croly handball.

As dramatic as that was, it was the pig’s head (inset) thrown earlier in the game by Rovers fans at former striker Tony Grant, who had traded green and white for black and red, that really set tongues wagging.

There has been numerous classic encounters down the years between these hated rivals yet, not for the first time, an off-the-field incident was the talking point. “It was really strange to see that on the football pitch and because of what happened that day, it stands out,” said McGuinness ahead of tonight’s clash.

A pig's head thrown by Rovers fans

“There were pigs feet thrown on the pitch as well! I couldn’t tell you the score of the game, just that I scored in it.

“I remember you would get phone calls from certain people that support the club telling you, ‘You had better win’. Come derby day you would just knock your phone off and they could not get hold of you.”

Of the rivalry, McGuinness admits games between the two clubs are ones to cherish - more so for the fans as both sets of players move on after the final whistle.

“There is more attention on these games,” said the defender who won two league titles with the Gypsies before rejoining the Hoops for a second time.

“I have played in different derbies but this one seems to have more bite about it. It is the fans, it is Dublin, it is two big clubs that don’t particularly like each other.

“As players you try not get too involved in the stuff going on outside the pitch as you can lose focus on the game and that is not a good thing to happen.”

One of the wise old men of the Rovers dressing room, the three-time title winner is about as focused as you will find in the league.

And his eyes are on the prize - which is three points tonight and nothing more.

McGuinness, 31, has been down this well trodden road before and is rarely loose-lipped about title tilts this early in the season.

“Three points is all we are after,” he said. “We know there is rivalry and we know what it means to both sets of fans but as professionals we have to focus on the job.”

Rovers are grinding out wins this season, rather than blowing teams away - not least at home where the majority of their Tallaght wins have been by a single goal.

McGuinness said: “We can understand that fans would like to see us hit teams for three or four but I think that will come.

“As a defender, a clean-sheet is what I am here to do. A 1-0 win, I will take that every week. That is not a problem for the players and we just have to remain focused.”